Ouster Reports 44% Year-over-Year Q3 Revenue Growth, Followed by Groundbreaking REV7 Product Launch and Planned Merger to Accelerate Lidar Adoption

Rhea-AI Summary

Ouster, Inc. (NYSE: OUST) reported Q3 2022 revenue of $11.2 million, marking a 44% year-over-year increase, and achieving record gross margins of 33%. The company sold 2,136 sensors, up 31% from the previous year, and increased Strategic Customer Agreements to 84. However, the net loss widened to $36 million. Ouster announced a planned merger with Velodyne in an all-stock transaction aimed at accelerating lidar adoption, which is subject to regulatory approval and expected to close in H1 2023.

Positive

• Revenue growth of 44% year-over-year.
• Record gross margins of 33%, up from 24% last year.
• Increased sales with 2,136 sensors sold, a 31% rise year-over-year.
• Expansion of Strategic Customer Agreements to 84, supporting long-term revenue visibility.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $36 million from $28 million in Q2.
• Adjusted EBITDA loss widened to $24 million.

$11.2 million in revenue with 33% gross margins in Q3 2022

Doubled range with REV7 sensors, powered by the next-generation L3 chip

Planned merger of equals to strengthen financial position

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ouster, Inc. (NYSE: OUST) (“Ouster” or the “Company”), a leading provider of high-resolution digital lidar sensors for the automotive, industrial, robotics, and smart infrastructure industries, announced financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2022.

Third Quarter 2022 Highlights

• $11.2 million in revenue, up 44% year over year.
• 33% gross margins, the highest margins in Ouster history, compared to 24% in the third quarter of 2021.
• Sold 2,136 sensors in the third quarter, up 31% year over year.
• Increased the number of Strategic Customer Agreements to 84, up from 80 in the prior quarter¹.
• Net loss increased to $36 million, compared to $28 million in the second quarter of 2022 and $13 million in the third quarter of 2021.
• Adjusted EBITDA² loss of $24 million, compared to $22 million³ in the second quarter of 2022 and $19 million in the third quarter of 2021.

Ouster’s second-highest revenue quarter ever was driven primarily by growth in the industrial and robotics verticals, which accounted for 75% of revenues in the quarter. This included substantial orders from customers for material handling, drone inspection, and robotic security applications. Other large orders from customers for trucks and buses in the automotive vertical, and crowd analytics in the infrastructure vertical also meaningfully contributed to the quarter. The Company delivered record gross margins of 33%, up from 27% in the second quarter of 2022 due to slightly higher average selling prices and lower purchase price variance in the quarter.

Business Updates

Merger of Equals: Today, Ouster announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to merge with Velodyne in an all-stock transaction to accelerate lidar adoption and strengthen the combined company’s financial position. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, approval by the stockholders of both companies, and other customary closing conditions. It is expected to close in the first half of 2023. For additional information, please refer to our joint release published today, November 7, 2022.

Execution on Product Roadmap: Ouster continued to execute on its product roadmap, dominated by the October launch of its newest OS digital lidar sensors, REV7, powered by its next-generation L3 chip. REV7 features the all-new OSDome sensor, as well as upgraded OS0, OS1, and OS2 sensors that deliver double the range, enhanced object detection, increased precision and accuracy, and greater reliability. The new REV7 sensors are the highest-performing family of sensors on the market and offer performance upgrades that more than double the Company’s collective serviceable obtainable market (“SOM”), driven by new opportunities for longer-range and mapping applications.

Benefits from the REV7 performance upgrades will support Ouster’s recently released 3D industrial digital lidar sensor suite configured to meet the unique requirements of forklift, port equipment, and autonomous mobile robot manufacturers with high volume pricing that enables adoption on production fleets. The advancements in the L3 architecture pave the way for Ouster’s upcoming Chronos chip, the automotive-grade, fully custom digital lidar silicon receiver that will power its DF solid-state sensor suite, and is slated to be integrated into the first Digital Flash (DF) units in 2023.

“Ouster had a terrific quarter, and continued to see commercial growth across key verticals where digital lidar is a critical enabler for advanced automation and intelligence,” said Ouster CEO Angus Pacala. “The launch of REV7, powered by the L3 chip, is our most important yet: Ouster now offers the highest-performing family of sensors on the market with double the range, a 50% increase in precision, and even better reliability. We expect our new products to drive faster growth across each of our verticals, particularly within the submarkets for AVs, warehouse automation, mapping, security, and crowd analytics.”

2022 Outlook

Ouster reiterated its FY 2022 revenue guidance⁴ of $40 million to $55 million and its gross margin target of 25% to 30%.

“Together with Velodyne, we expect to unlock significant synergies, creating a company with the scale and resources to deliver stronger solutions for customers and society, while accelerating time to profitability and enhancing value for shareholders,” said Ouster CFO Anna Brunelle. “Through our complementary customer base, partners, and distribution channels, coupled with reduced product costs, we can accelerate lidar adoption across fast-growing end markets by further expanding our SOM, and augmenting or displacing other sensing technologies.”

Conference Call Information

Ouster will host a conference call and live webcast for analysts and investors at 5 p.m. EST today, November 7, 2022, to discuss its financial results and business outlook. To access the call, please register at https://conferencingportals.com/event/ERDXYEAl.

Upon registering, each participant will be provided with call details and a registrant ID. The webcast and related presentation materials will be accessible for at least 30 days on Ouster’s investor relations website at https://investors.ouster.com. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through November 21, 2022. To access the replay, please dial (800) 770-2030 from the U.S. or (647) 362-9199 from outside the U.S. and enter the conference ID number: 93428.

About Ouster

Ouster (NYSE: OUST) is building a safer and more sustainable future through its high-resolution digital lidar sensors for the automotive, industrial, smart infrastructure, and robotics industries. Ouster’s sensors offer an excellent combination of price and performance with the flexibility to span hundreds of use-cases and enable revolutionary autonomy across industries. With a global team and high-volume manufacturing, Ouster supports approximately 700 customers in over 50 countries. Ouster is headquartered in San Francisco, CA with offices in the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.ouster.com, or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

_________________________

¹ “Strategic Customer Agreements” or “SCAs” establish a multi-year purchase and supply framework for Ouster and the customer, and include details about customer programs and applications where the customer intends to use Ouster products. SCAs also include multi-year non-binding customer forecasts (typically of three to five years in length) giving Ouster visibility to the customer's long-term purchasing requirements, mutually agreed upon pricing over the duration of the agreement, and in certain cases include multi-year binding purchase commitments. “Contracted revenue opportunity” represents the sum of both binding purchase commitments and non-binding forecasts. No assurances can be given that non-binding forecasts will mature into binding purchase commitments, or that any contracted revenue opportunity will result in revenue. No additional revenue opportunity beyond the customer’s actual forecast has been imputed.
² Adjusted EBITDA loss is a non-GAAP financial measure. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures for additional information and a reconciliation to Net loss, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
³ Adjusted EBITDA for this reporting period does not include certain litigation expenses.
⁴ FY 2022 guidance does not reflect any contribution from the planned merger of equals.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities law. Such statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations in light of historical results and trends, current conditions and potential future developments, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates and expectations will be achieved. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “continue,” “target,” “contemplate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “predict,” “possible,” “potential” “pursue,” “likely,” and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions or events identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than historical facts, including statements regarding the expected timing of the closing of the merger; the expected benefits and synergies of the merger; the competitive position of the combined company; any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing; the Company’s expected financial results for the year ending December 31, 2022 and the expected financial results of the combined company following the merger; expected growth from technological advancements and new product offerings; expected serviceable obtainable market (SOM); and future strategy and market positioning; are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected, including but not limited to risks related to Ouster’s limited operating history and history of losses; the negotiating power and product standards of its customers; fluctuations in its operating results; supply chain constraints and challenges; cancellation or postponement of contracts or unsuccessful implementations; the adoption of its products and the growth of the lidar market generally; inability of [Ouster or Velodyne] to obtain stockholder approval required to consummate the planned merger; conditions to the closing of the merger may not be satisfied; the merger may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the effect of the announcement of the merger on the ability of Ouster or Velodyne to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and others with whom Ouster or Velodyne does business, or on Ouster’s or Velodyne’s operating results and business generally; Ouster’s or Velodyne’s respective businesses may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the merger and disruption of management’s attention due to the merger; the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the merger; Ouster’s ability to grow its sales and marketing organization; substantial research and development costs needed to develop and commercialize new products; the competitive environment in which Ouster operates; selection of Ouster’s products for inclusion in target markets; Ouster’s future capital needs and ability to secure additional capital on favorable terms or at all; its ability to use tax attributes; Ouster’s dependence on key third party suppliers, in particular Benchmark Electronics, Inc., and manufacturers; Ouster’s ability to maintain inventory and the risk of inventory write-downs; inaccurate forecasts of market growth; Ouster’s ability to manage growth; the creditworthiness of Ouster’s customers; risks related to acquisitions; risks related to international operations; risks of product delivery problems or defects; costs associated with product warranties; Ouster’s ability to maintain competitive average selling prices or high sales volumes or reduce product costs; conditions in its customers’ industries; Ouster’s ability to recruit and retain key personnel; Ouster’s use of professional employer organizations; Ouster’s ability to adequately protect and enforce its intellectual property rights; Ouster’s ability to effectively respond to evolving regulations and standards; risks related to operating as a public company; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to certain of Ouster’s warrants being accounted for as liabilities; and other important factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as updated by the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and as may be further updated from time to time in the Company’s other filings with the SEC. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully and in the totality of circumstances when evaluating these forward-looking statements, and not to place undue reliance on any of them. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s reasonable estimates and beliefs as of the date of this press release. While Ouster may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it disclaims any obligation to do so, other than as may be required by law, even if subsequent events cause its views to change.

The financials herein are unaudited and subject to the finalization of year-end audit procedures. In addition, see information below concerning non-GAAP financial measures.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to its results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), Ouster believes the non‑GAAP measure of Adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating its operating performance. The calculation of Adjusted EBITDA for this reporting period does not include litigation expenses. Ouster calculates Adjusted EBITDA as net loss excluding interest expense (income), net, other expense (income), net, stock-based compensation expense, provision for income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, litigation and litigation related expenses and other non-recurring expenses. Ouster believes that Adjusted EBITDA may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance and may be helpful in comparison with other companies, some of which use similar non‑GAAP information to supplement their GAAP results. The non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly titled non‑GAAP measures used by other companies. Reconciliation tables of the most comparable GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures are included at the end of this press release.

Additional Information

In connection with the proposed transaction, [Ouster and Velodyne] plan to file with the SEC and mail or otherwise provide to their respective stockholders a joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND OUSTER’S AND VELODYNE’s RESPECTIVE STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY EACH OF [Ouster AND Velodyne] WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents containing important information about Ouster and Velodyne, once such documents are filed with the SEC, from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Ouster and Velodyne make available free of charge at www.ouster.com and www.velodynelidar.com, respectively (in the “Investors” section), copies of materials they file with, or furnish to, the SEC.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Participants in the Solicitation

Ouster, Velodyne and their respective directors, executive officers and certain employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of [Ouster and Velodyne] in connection with the proposed transaction. Securityholders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Ouster’s directors and executive officers in Ouster’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2022, and its definitive proxy statement for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 27, 2022. Securityholders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Velodyne’s directors and executive officers in Velodyne’s definitive proxy statement for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2022. Additional information regarding the interests of such individuals in the proposed transaction will be included in the Joint Proxy statement/Prospectus relating to the proposed transaction when it is filed with the SEC. These documents (when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, Ouster’s website at https://investors.ouster.com/ and Velodyne’s website at https://investors.velodynelidar.com/.

OUSTER, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
	September 30, 2022				December 31, 2021
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	133,189			$	182,644
Restricted cash, current		250				977
Accounts receivable, net		10,783				10,723
Inventory		20,804				7,448
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		6,923				5,566
Total current assets		171,949				207,358
Property and equipment, net		8,594				10,054
Operating lease, right-of-use assets		13,652				15,156
Goodwill		51,151				51,076
Intangible assets, net		19,286				22,652
Restricted cash, non-current		1,088				1,035
Other non-current assets		554				371
Total assets	$	266,274			$	307,702
Liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	8,154			$	4,863
Accrued and other current liabilities		14,395				14,173
Operating lease liability, current portion		3,127				3,067
Total current liabilities		25,676				22,103
Operating lease liability, long-term portion		14,288				16,208
Warrant Liabilities		276				7,626
Debt		19,181				—
Other non-current liabilities		1,561				1,065
Total liabilities		60,982				47,002
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		—				—
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Common stock		18				17
Additional paid-in capital		605,195				564,045
Accumulated deficit		(399,740	)			(303,356	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(181	)			(6	)
Total stockholders’ equity		205,292				260,700
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock, and stockholders’ equity	$	266,274			$	307,702

OUSTER, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
Product revenue		$	11,204			$	7,755			$	30,091			$	21,726
Cost of product			7,488				5,879				21,002				16,212
Gross (loss) profit			3,716				1,876				9,089				5,514
Operating expenses:
Research and development			17,212				8,390				49,011				19,576
Sales and marketing			8,541				6,737				23,194				14,777
General and administrative			14,008				14,073				40,306				36,177
Total operating expenses			39,761				29,200				112,511				70,530
Loss from operations			(36,045	)			(27,324	)			(103,422	)			(65,016	)
Other (expense) income:
Interest income			733				165				1,231				305
Interest expense			(699	)			—				(1,143	)			(504	)
Other income (expense), net			61				14,490				7,071				(422	)
Total other expense, net			95				14,655				7,159				(621	)
Loss before income taxes			(35,950	)			(12,669	)			(96,263	)			(65,637	)
Provision for income tax expense			37				—				121				—
Net loss		$	(35,987	)		$	(12,669	)		$	(96,384	)		$	(65,637	)
Other comprehensive loss
Foreign currency translation adjustments		$	(87	)		$	—			$	(175	)		$	—
Total comprehensive loss		$	(36,074	)		$	(12,669	)		$	(96,559	)		$	(65,637	)
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted		$	(0.20	)		$	(0.08	)		$	(0.55	)		$	(0.53	)
Weighted-average shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share			181,361,354				156,647,259				175,795,093				123,175,390

OUSTER, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
	Nine months ended September 30,
	2022				2021
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	$	(96,384	)		$	(65,637	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		7,070				3,428
Stock-based compensation		25,324				18,557
Change in right-of-use asset		2,075				1,292
Interest expense		290				36
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount		104				250
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		(7,350	)			406
Inventory write down		894				866
Provision for doubtful accounts		9				—
Gain from disposal of property and equipment		(100	)			—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(69	)			(4,378	)
Inventory		(14,249	)			(2,551	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(1,540	)			42
Accounts payable		3,225				(2,707	)
Accrued and other liabilities		(158	)			7,060
Operating lease liability		(2,431	)			(1,770	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(83,290	)			(45,106	)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from sale of property & equipment		275				—
Purchases of property and equipment		(2,353	)			(1,774	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(2,078	)			(1,774	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from the merger and private offering		—				291,454
Payment of offering costs		—				(27,124	)
Repayment of debt		—				(7,000	)
Proceeds from issuance of promissory notes to related parties		—				5,000
Repayment of promissory notes to related parties		—				(5,000	)
Repurchase of common stock		(46	)			(43	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		398				539
Proceeds from borrowings, net of debt discount and issuance costs		19,077				—
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock under at-the-market offering, net of commissions and fees		16,322				—
At-the-market offering costs for the issuance of common stock		(278	)			—
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of restricted stock awards		(59	)			—
Net cash provided by financing activities		35,414				257,826
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		(175	)			—
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(50,129	)			210,946
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		184,656				12,642
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	134,527			$	223,588

OUSTER, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
GAAP net loss		$	(35,987	)		$	(12,669	)		$	(96,384	)		$	(65,637	)
Interest expense (income), net			(34	)			(165	)			(88	)			199
Other expense (income), net			(61	)			(14,490	)			(7,071	)			422
Stock-based compensation(1)			8,455				7,147				25,324				18,557
Provision for income tax expense			37				—				121				—
Non-GAAP operating loss			(27,590	)			(20,177	)			(78,098	)			(46,459	)
Depreciation and amortization expense(2)			2,331				1,174				7,070				3,428
Litigation expenses(3)			1,123				500				1,715				500
Adjusted EBITDA		$	(24,136	)		$	(18,503	)		$	(69,313	)		$	(42,531	)

(1)Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:

		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
Cost of product revenue		$	207			$	206			$	570			$	457
Research and development			3,681				2,063				11,248				4,305
Sales and marketing			1,913				1,717				5,276				2,702
General and administrative			2,654				3,161				8,230				11,093
Total stock-based compensation		$	8,455			$	7,147			$	25,324			$	18,557

(2)Includes depreciation and amortization expense as follows:

		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
Cost of revenue		$	227			$	275			$	820			$	678
Research and development			889				231				2,600				350
Sales and marketing			75				—				225				—
General and administrative			1,140				654				3,426				1,226
Total depreciation and amortization expense		$	2,331			$	1,160			$	7,070			$	2,254

(3)Litigation expenses and litigation-related expenses outside of the Company’s ordinary business operations

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221107005417/en/

For Investors

Sarah Ewing

investors@ouster.io

For Media

Heather Shapiro

press@ouster.io

Source: Ouster, Inc.

FAQ

What were Ouster's Q3 2022 financial results?

Ouster reported Q3 2022 revenue of $11.2 million, a 44% increase year-over-year, with gross margins reaching 33%.

What is the significance of Ouster's merger with Velodyne?

The merger aims to strengthen financial position and accelerate lidar adoption, enhancing market presence.

How many sensors did Ouster sell in Q3 2022?

Ouster sold 2,136 sensors in Q3 2022, a 31% increase compared to the previous year.

What are Ouster's revenue projections for FY 2022?

Ouster reiterated its FY 2022 revenue guidance of $40 million to $55 million.

What are the expected benefits of Ouster's new REV7 sensors?

The REV7 sensors promise double the range, a 50% increase in precision, and enhanced reliability, expanding market opportunities.